LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Sophomore guard Ava Smith poured in a career-high 22 points, but the Bellarmine University women's basketball team was defeated 87-54 by North Alabama on Wednesday night in Atlantic Sun Conference play.

Smith sank a trio of 3-pointers for injury-riddled Bellarmine (2-26, 0-15 ASUN), the last of which established a new career best in scoring. Redshirt junior forward Andrea Chiquemba supplied 11 points and sophomore forward Kayce Hyman added 10 in the Knights' home finale.

The loudest cheers of the night were reserved for freshman walk-ons Megan Wearsch, Mariah Daniels and Olivia Pifer. All four scored in the last quarter, with Wearsch sinking a jumper from the free throw line, and Daniels and Pifer both canning 3-pointers.

Pifer's triple came on the last possession of the contest. She and Maddie Janszen, yet another freshman walk-on, tied for a team high with five rebounds.

North Alabama (14-12, 9-6), which led 45-25 at halftime, shot 52.9 percent for the game and 68.2 percent from two-point range. Five Lions scored in double figures led by 21 points from Sofia Ceppellotti.

Bellarmine will play at 3 p.m. ET (2 CT) Saturday at Austin Peay.

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